Kids Takeover – Disney Edition Part One
You may know that our family has a huge heart for all things Disney. This week we did a kids takeover, Disney style on my YouTube channel. I let my girls share some of their favorite Disney tips and tricks. They had so much they wanted to say so they plan to add another video soon with more ideas.
Watching them work together, brainstorm and prep all they needed for the video was the sweetest thing and an incredible learning experience for them. I’ll leave that for another post but seeing how learning is so much more than a worksheet, tests and a desk is a big reason why we love homeschooling. Learning is everywhere and this was a perfect example of that. But back to the video, the girls had some great ideas and I wanted to share those here on the blog for you all. I’ll leave a link to their video at the bottom of this post so you don’t miss it. Without further ado, let’s get to all things Disney!
Countdown Calendar
There is no better way to capture the anticipation of a Disney trip than by having a countdown calendar. We found the idea for this “Up” inspired countdown and have used it for the past three years. The kids love waking up in the morning to pop the next balloon. You can also do a simple chain style countdown inspired by your favorite Disney character. Ideas abound on Pinterest so search and find what speaks to you.
Don’t forget to get your Mickey and Minnie ears ready on your nightstand. The morning you leave for your trip, bring extra magic with a pair of ears. The kids will love it and everyone will be in the spirit. Amazon has so many choices when it comes to Disney ears so pick what you love. These are some of our favorites for classic ear magic.
Disney-Themed Party
A week or so before your trip, get everyone who’s going together for a little party. This can be as big or small as you want. The goal of the party is to get everyone excited about the trip and to be sure you have all the details figured out. You could do breakfast for dinner with Mickey shaped waffles, recreate some of your favorite Disney World treats, or eat around the world EPCOT style. Get creative and have fun with the food. We always have our itineraries to look over and talk about what time we need to be up for our flight. Once the business is out of the way, we watch our favorite Disney World ride POV’s and pick a Disney movie to watch outside on the blowup screen. Of course popcorn abounds on this night, as well and maybe a s’more or two:)
What To Bring On The Airplane
When it comes to traveling to and from Disney World, you’ll want to be prepared with entertainment and snacks. We always fly, but these ideas would work for driving as well. Snacks are always important for kids as well as adults. We have found that having a pencil box for each kid filled with snacks is a great way to stay organized and fuel their little bellies. We always make sure they have suckers, and if they are old enough, gum in these boxes to help with the pressure in their ears during takeoff and landing. Add whatever favorite snacks your kids enjoy as well.
A Disney bag for your kids to carry all their things is great for them and will help you. Pick whatever style you like best, but having something for them to keep their tablets, AirPods/earphones, snacks, swimsuits, magnetic games, etc. is so helpful.
That leads me to entertainment. Tablets with earphones are a great option on the airplane as they don’t take up a ton of space and they have lots of ways to keep your kids occupied. We have also really loved these magnetic games. Magnets are your best friend on an airplane so you don’t have to worry about losing pieces.
Fun Transportation In Orlando Airport
My kids favorite part of the Orlando Airport is going from terminal to terminal via the monorail/train. Your kids will love it as well. It’s less than a minute ride but kick-starts the magic in my kids eyes and mine too. At the front and back of this monorail/train there is a place where your kids can sit and enjoy the ride. It makes for a fun photo-op year after year and brings a smile to the start of your trip.
Favorite Hotel For Disney Vibes
Without a doubt, Art Of Animation is my kids favorite Disney hotel. The theming is beyond fun and everywhere you look you’ll see a ginormous scene or character from four of the best Disney movies. The Little Mermaid section has standard room sizes, which sleep four. Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo sections all have suites, which sleep six and come with two bathrooms, a bedroom and a kitchenette with a microwave, sink and mini fridge. The size is amazing if you have a larger family like us, and as I said, the theming is on point. I promise you will not be disappointed if you stay here.
Grab n’ Go Breakfast
We always try to be at the parks at rope drop, which means the mornings are pretty early. In order to get the most amount of sleep we can, I like to set us up with easy grab n’ go breakfasts that we can eat as we walk to whatever transportation we are taking that day to get to the park. This will look different depending on what you like for breakfast, but we typically have protein shakes, smoothie yogurts, individual cereal boxes, Clif Bars and fruit.
I use the Walmart app and have a delivery to our hotel set up on the day we arrive. That way I can get everything organized and set for the week ahead. Not only does this shave off time in the morning for extra sleep, but it ends up saving us a lot of money by not buying breakfast at the resort or park.
Rest Days and Foot Treatments
I know some people will disagree with this, but I think it’s important to have rest days on your trip. It will help everyone if you have days of recovery mixed into park days. Disney World can be more of a sprint if you’re packing in too much and you won’t be able to enjoy it if you have every second booked. I know there’s so much to see and do, but you have to pace yourself. Be ok with the fact that you won’t be able to see and do everything in one trip. This is why planning and choosing your “must sees” is so important.
We try to do no more than two consecutive days at the parks, followed by a rest day. Rest days have become some of our favorite memories on our trips so don’t think they are throw away days. Disney resorts are full of fun waiting to be explored. Spending time at the pool and play areas with a fun snack from the pool bar has all the recipes for a great day. A trip on the Disney Skyliner to nowhere in particular is another fun way to enjoy a rest day.
Don’t forget to give your feet some lovin’ on these days as well. We have started bringing this foot roller on our trips and it is a game changer. It feels so good to just take a few minutes on each foot and roll it out. Your feet go through a lot on a Disney trip so they need some recovery. On an average park day you can expect to walk seven to ten miles in a single day. I would say that most of us aren’t walking that much on a typical day so give your feet some love.
These Dr. Scholl’s foot masks designed for tired, achy feet are like heaven on earth. They feel so good after a long day of walking. The best news is that both the foot masks and foot roller are small and won’t take up much space in your luggage. You will thank yourself for making these a must-have on your next Disney trip.
Keep a lookout for part two of our kids takeover – Disney style. I hope this helps you as you prep for what is sure to be a trip of a lifetime!
Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite tips and tricks.
